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Monday, August 18, 2014

Soldier Tomas Urioste ~ Will 1820

Know ye, all
who shall see this memorandum, that I, Tomas Urioste, soldier of this company
in Santa Fe, finding myself sick in bed of an illness that God has seen fit to
send me, and being in sound mind and judgment, execute and order this, my last
will and testament, in the following manner:

I declare that
I have been married, in first marriage, according to the rites of the Catholic
Church, to Juana Jeronima Maese, for twenty-four years. In the said time we had
and raised one child who was named Juan Antonio, and the said child died in
tender age.

I declare that
I received, as my wife’s dowry, five breeding cows and one burro. Of these
chattels nothing is left; and we both enjoyed same.

I declare that
I have one shotgun; one pistol which will be found in the warehouse; one lance;
one cartridge belt with 15 cartridges; one saddle, fully equipped; one gun
case. The bridle and spurs are at the home of the gunsmith. They have been
there since last year, and have been examined, but have not been returned to
me. The saddle pads were lost in Navajo; Sergeant Manuel Baca is aware of this.

I declare that
I have 3 horses; one “he” mule and one of the horses has been lost since last
winter.

I declare that
I have in the plaza of San Fernando de Taos 300 varas of farming land which
Jose Miera is cultivating. I order that this land be delivered to my wife.

I declare that
I have a house in the plaza of San Francisco de Taos (sic), composed of 4
rooms, where my brothers are living. I order my wife to recover it.

I order that
the salary due me as a soldier be given to my wife so that she can pay for my
funeral.

I declare that
Manuel Lopez owes me six varas of printed cotton; one rebozo; four varas of
linen and two pairs of shoes. I order that they be collected.

I declare that
Manuel Alire owes me one fat ox. I order that it be recovered.

I declare that
Juana Zena owes me two pesos in coin. I order that they be collected.

I declare that
Manuel Gregorio of Abiquiu owes me four first-grade chamois skins. I order that
they be collected.

I declare that
Manuel Maestas owes me 6 first-grade chamois skins. I order that they be
collected.

I declare that
Juan Baldes of Cuyamungue owes me two pesos in coin. I order that they be
collected.

I declare that
I owe don Francisco Ortiz 12 pesos in
coin. I order them paid. I owe the Master, Manuel Sena, one two-year old colt,
and I owe corporal Ortiz four pesos in coin.

I appoint as
my executors, in the first place, Corporal Francisco Ortiz, and Felix, my
brother; and I ask them, in the name of God, that, after paying for my funeral,
they give what remains to my wife, and also pay my debts; and the balance my
wife may enjoy with God’s blessing and mine.

I declare that I have not executed any other
testament or codicil except the present one; and for its greater force and
validity it has been executed before Sergeant don Jose Alarid, who made it, and whom I requested to interpose his
authority. I certify that I know the
grantor, who did not sign, because he did not know how, and who made the sign
of the cross. I signed in the presence of my assisting witnesses, who were the
soldier, Jose Alarid, 2nd, and Anto (Antonio) Ortiz.

Executed in
the villa of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the 10th of July, 1820.